Exodus 26:1

the tabernacle the Dwelling, used here, as the passage itself clearly shews, in its stricter sense (see on Exodus 25:9) of the structure formed by the tapestry hangings. Cf. Exodus 40:2 (with the note), 3, Numbers 3:25.

fine twined linen i.e. linen of superior fineness: see on Exodus 25:4.

blue, &c. i.e. threads dyed with these colours (Exodus 25:4).

cherubim the composite animal figures described on Exodus 25:18.

the work of the designer] or, of the pattern-weaver. -Cunning workman" is not a good rendering; for it lacks the necessary distinctness. -Cunning" (i.e. kenning, knowing) is an archaism for skilfulor (Exodus 31:4) skilfully madeused often in AV., and retained mostly in RV., to denote various kinds of technical skill (Exodus 38:23; Genesis 25:27 1 Samuel 16:16, 2 Chronicles 2:7; Jeremiah 9:17 al.). Even -skilful workman" would not however be sufficiently distinctive: the Heb. word means deviseror designer, viz. of artistic designs in weaving, and is one of three terms, used repeatedly in these Chapter s, to distinguish three different grades of textile work. We have viz.:

(1) the work of the weaver (Exodus 28:32; Exodus 39:22; Exodus 39:27), i.e. simple weaving, work woven of one material only: as of blue, Exodus 24:4 (the loops for the curtains), Exodus 28:28 (the lace attaching the sacred pouch to the ephod), 31 (the robe of the ephod), 37 (the lace attaching the gold plate to the high priest's turban); of white linen Exodus 28:39 (the turban), Exodus 39:27 f. (the priests" tunics and caps); or of fine twined linen, Exodus 27:9 (the hangings of the court), Exodus 39:28 (the priests" drawers).

(2) the work of the variegator (or embroiderer): Exodus 26:36; Exodus 27:16 (the screens for the entrances to the Dwelling and the court); Exodus 28:39; Exodus 39:29 (the sash of the high priest). There is no doubt that this term denotes work variegated in colours: but it is disputed whether it means work wovenin colours, or embroideredin colours. According to Kn. Di. it is work woven of blue, purple, scarlet, and white yarns, arranged in stripes or checks, but without figures or gold thread (as No. 3): Kennedy (EB.iv. 5289) thinks that it is embroidery proper, i.e. woven work, decorated afterwards by the needle with figures embroidered on it in colours. The cognate subst. variegated(or embroidered) workoccurs Judges 5:30; Ezekiel 16:10; Ezekiel 16:13; Ezekiel 16:18; Ezekiel 17:3 (of variegated plumage), Ezekiel 26:16; Ezekiel 27:7; Ezekiel 27:16; Ezekiel 27:24; Psalms 45:14; 1 Chronicles 29:2 †; and the verb in Psalms 139:15 (-curiously wrought"). When the white woollen carpet which separates the men's from the women's compartment in a Bedawi tent is -interwoven with patterns of flowers," it is denoted in Arabic by the corresponding partic. marḳûm, -variegated" (Burckh. Bedouins, i. 40).

(3) the work of the designer, i.e. work woven of blue, purple, scarlet, and white yarns, with figures (as here and v.31), or gold thread (Exodus 28:6; Exodus 28:15), artistically interwoven: Exodus 26:1 (the curtains of the Dwelling), 31 (the veil), Exodus 28:6 (the ephod), 15 (the pouch for the Urim and Thummim).